Dental crown-setting tool



Patented Apr. 22, 1924.

DEMETER BOUYOUCOGLOU, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DENTAL CROWN-SETTING TOOL.

Application led May 28, 1923. Serial No. 641,812.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DnMErii-n BoUYoiUcoG- LOU, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, haveinvented a certain newr and useful Improvement in Dental Crown-SettingTools, of which the following is a specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates generally to dentists tools and, more particularly,to a certain new and useful improvement in tools especially adapted forthe setting of crowns.

The ordinary crown of the type which encases the outer or exposedportion of the tooth s made of substantially cup-shape and of relativelysoft sheet material, usually gold, and its setting involves, as a rule,some shaping both of the tooth and of the crown to snugly fit the shapedtooth. In order to obtain a close or tight fitting of the margin of thecrown to the base of the tooth, the margin of the crown is reducedlerence drawing, which illustrates a preferred emor dressed usually toa` minute feather edge, which edge, prior to fitting of the crown overand upon the tooth, is conformed as nearly as possible to the tooth' andthen slipped over the tooth, and, when the crown is fully set, itsfeather edge resides usually a trifle beyond, under, the margin of thegum. In this movement or setting of the crown over the tooth, itsfeather edge, by reason of the generally tapering sides of the tooth, isdeflected slightly outwardly and has a tendency, when fully set underthe gum, to extend and hold the gum from its normal snug close fitagainst the tooth. Such tendency of the crown has heretofore so far as 1am aware, been largely remedied by the use of small needle pointedinstruments for forcing the featheredge inwardly to the tooth, in whichact or operation there is, by reason of the use of the minutely pointedinstrument, a minimum of gum disturbance. Obviously, however, such toolshave a tendency to roughen, even to the extent of serrating, the minutefeather edge of the crown, resulting in the production of an unevensurface between the tooth and gum, which frequently is of such characteras to prevent the gum from its natural conformance with the tooth. Thereis thus created a depository, for foreign matter, diicult to properlycleanse, and which 'frequently results in the decay of the tooth anddisease of the gum.

My present invention has hence for its chief object the provision of arelatively simple, readily manipulated tool for the setting or shapingof the crown and its edge,

which will accurately, exactly, and efficiently l conform the edge ofthe crown to the tooth,

whereby the gum may, after the crown is set, r

return to its natural snug fitting position next the tooth.

l/Vith the above and` other objects in view, my present inventionresides in the novel `features oftool form and construction hereinafterdescribed and afterwards pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 shows in elevation a tool constructed in accordance with myinvention;

Figure Qshows in perspective the tool as in use; and i Figure 23 vis asectional elevationl of the tooth, gum, and crown, showing a fragment ofthe tool as in use. v v

Referring now more in detail and by refcharacters to the accompanyingbodiment of my invention, l designates a tooth, 2 the contiguous gum, 3a crown, and 4 the reduced feather-edge of the margin of the crown.

My new tool, as illustrated inFigure 1,

comprises a relative-ly transversely broad` working end 5, which istransversely ar cuated or shaped to conform with a substantiallycomplete side or lateral tooth surface and, as best seen in Figure 3, istapered to a relatively sharp edge longitudinally or in a direction atright angles to its arcuated trend, the working end 5 of the tool beingcarried at its top on a curved neck 6, projecting upwardly and vawayfrom` the working end 5, and terminating in a suitably elongated handle7, the broad working end 5 preferably having its broad and arcuatedworking surface arranged substantially in the longitudinal plane of thehandle.

As best shown in Figure 2, the relative positions of the tool and itshandle are such that, when the tool-end 5 is substantially verticallydisposed, the handle 7 extends outwardly and at an angle to the tool-end5, the curved neck 6 providing clearance over the adjacent teeth.

In the drawing, the tool is shown as one designed for operating upon theouter surfaces of the right hand teeth or the inside llf) surfaces ofthe left hand teeth of the lower jaw, or the inside surfaces of theright hand teeth or the outside surfaces of the left hand teeth of theupper jaw, and it is to be understood that a tool, the identicalcompanion or counterpart of the one shown, except for the trend of thearcuation of its workingend, is provided, which is exactly opposite, foroperating upon the inner surfaces of the right hand teeth or the outersurfaces of the left hand teeth of the lower jaw, or the outer surfacesof the right hand side or inner surfaces of the left hand side of theupper jaw. And it is to be understood further that the tools arefurnished in sets of such pairs graded as to size for operating ondifferent sized teeth.

By reason of the relatively long arcuated working-end of the tool, theentire lateral surface of a crown, including its featheredge may beshaped or conformed to the tooth in one operation or tool application;hence there results a smooth uninterrupted crown-surface next the gumand tooth, the taper and arcuation of the tool effecting withconvenience and facility a smooth, tight fit of the crown and its edgeover and upon the tooth and beneath the gum with a minimum of gumdistinction.

I am aware that minor changes in the form and construction of my newtool may be made and substituted for those herein shown and describedwithout departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A dental-tool of the class described,

comprising a handle, and a broad arcuate working end having a dimensionand shape to conform to a substantially complete lateral tooth surface,and having its broad arcuate working surface arranged substantially inthe longitudinal plane of the handle.

2. A dental-tool of the class described, comprising a handle, and abroad arcuate Working end having a dimension and shape to conformsubstantially to a complete lateral tooth surface and tapered in adirection paralleling the trend of the tooth, and having its broadarcuate working surface arranged substantially in the longitudinal planeof the handle.

3. A dental tool of the class described, comprising a handle, and aworking end transversely arcuated to conform substantially to a completelateral tooth surface and tapered in a direction paralleling the trendof the tooth, and having its transversely arcuated working end arrangedin substantially the longitudinal plane of the handle.

4. A dental-tool of the class described, comprising a handle, arelatively broad working end transversely arcuated to conformsubstantially to a complete lateral tooth surface and tapered to arelatively sharp edge in a direction paralleling the trend of the tooth,and a curved neck projecting upwardly from and above the working end andconnecting the handle and working end to provide clearance for thehandle over adjacent teeth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

DEMETER BoUYoUooGLou.

